The Hob's Bargain

older than he had this spring. “And the manor house as well. As far as we can tell, Albrin and his men were all killed outright. We wouldn’t know that much, but one of the manor serfs escaped.”
    He nodded toward the corner of the room, and I saw a boy of about fourteen, thin and ragged, who was curled in a tight knot against the wall. His eyes were open, shifting from one side to the other. The tautness of his stillness reminded me of last night, when I, too, had sat very still so no one would notice me.
    â€œHas someone told Kith?” I asked. Albrin , I thought, not Albrin .
    â€œI did,” said Merewich. “It’s hard to tell how he took it.”
    I nodded and fought tears. If this last spring had taught me anything, it was that I could do nothing about past events. But I can make the present worse , I thought sourly. Well, best to get it over with at once. “Koret, for your count—four of the raiders died last night on my rounds.”
    â€œDid you…,” began Merewich. He stopped when I shook my head.
    â€œNo, it wasn’t me. Kith’s the only one who can take them out in multiples. I came upon a group of raiders unexpectedly. There were only the four of them, so I took cover instead of sounding the alarm. It was dark, but I heard something attack and eat them.” A few of the elders blanched at my bald telling. “I’m not sure what it was. When it was quiet, I came out and looked the area over. I’m not much of a tracker, next to useless in the dark. If you want to send Kith or Red Toam out to my cottage to read the dirt, they might be able to tell you more. If I were to guess, I’d say it was something—something like that thing that attacked me on the Hob.”
    They didn’t like that, but neither did I. We’d all been hoping it had been the only one. No one else had seen anything like it since then.
    â€œStrange how she’s the only one who sees them,” muttered someone behind me.
    Koret ignored the remark. “Is that all?”
    I nodded, and turned to leave. As I did, I saw the serf from the manor leaning wearily against the wall. “Let me take the boy out. He looks as if he’s ready to collapse. I’ll eat my boots if Melly won’t take him. She can always use more help around here.”
    I didn’t say Melly was a motherly soul who would take him under her wing, but everyone in the room except the boy knew it. Merewich gave me an approving smile, and I took that as permission.
    When I extended my hand to help him to his feet, the boy eyed it warily and slid up against the wall until he stood on his own.

    D ESPITE IT ALL , I STEPPED OUT OF THE INN WITH A smile. Melly could be overwhelming to people who were not used to her, and occasionally to those of us who were. I cherished the look on the poor boy’s face as she’d herded him to the bathing room with the determination of a sheepdog at shearing time.
    The bright light of day assaulted my eyes after the dim interior of the inn, so I didn’t see Poul until I bumped into him. Because of my momentary blindness, I couldn’t tell if he stepped in front of me deliberately, or if it was an accident. But if he’d still been avoiding me, he wouldn’t have been close enough to bump.
    â€œWitch,” he spat, stepping back from me as if my touch could contaminate him.
    He had changed even more than I had over the past few months. New gray streaks ran through his beard, which had grown straggly. His hair was uncombed and his clothes ragged. They hung on him because of the weight he’d lost—but everyone had lost some weight.
    â€œYes,” I agreed mildly, trying to step past him. I liked Poul. I didn’t want this ugliness, especially not now, while I was so worried about Albrin.
    There were several people gathering near the corner of the inn. It seemed to me that they were just curious—though I hadn’t been keeping careful track of who belonged to the radical faction. I almost didn’t care. I just wanted to find someplace quiet where I could deal with Albrin’s death—for I knew that if Albrin wasn’t dead, he soon would be.
    â€œWhy don’t you just use your magic to destroy them instead of us, witch? Or are you helping them? There are evil spirits haunting the old cemetery now—but I don’t suppose I need to tell you that.” He looked unhealthy under his tan.